Environmental Impacts » Conservation Efforts

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Different types of conservation efforts in tourism destinations
How conservation helps protect natural and cultural resources
Examples of successful conservation projects in tourism
The role of stakeholders in conservation
Sustainable tourism practices that support conservation
Case studies of conservation in different environments

Introduction to Conservation Efforts in Tourism

Tourism can have significant impacts on the environment, but it can also be a powerful force for conservation. When done right, tourism provides economic reasons to protect natural areas and cultural heritage that might otherwise be lost. This section explores how conservation efforts work in tourism destinations and why they matter.

Key Definitions:

Conservation: The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.
Protected Area: A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature.
Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of local people and involves education.
Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Types of Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts in tourism take many forms, from large-scale national parks to community-led initiatives. Here are the main approaches:

⊕ Protected Areas

These include national parks, marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. They have legal protection and usually restrict certain activities to preserve natural features. Tourism often helps fund these areas through entrance fees and concessions.

⊕ Community Conservation

Local communities manage their natural resources sustainably while benefiting economically from tourism. Examples include community forests and village-managed marine areas where locals serve as guides and rangers.

⊕ Species Protection

Focused on saving endangered animals or plants that tourists want to see. Examples include gorilla conservation in Rwanda and turtle protection programmes in the Caribbean that involve tourists in conservation activities.

⊕ Habitat Restoration

Repairing damaged ecosystems to bring back native plants and animals. Many resorts and tour operators now include restoration activities like tree planting or coral reef regeneration as part of the visitor experience.

The Role of Different Stakeholders in Conservation

Conservation in tourism destinations requires cooperation between many different groups:

☆ Government

Creates laws and protected areas, enforces regulations and develops national conservation strategies. Example: Costa Rica's government protects 25% of its land as national parks, which has made it a top ecotourism destination.

☆ Tourism Businesses

Can adopt sustainable practices, educate tourists and fund conservation projects. Example: Many safari operators in Kenya contribute a portion of their fees to wildlife conservation funds.

☆ Local Communities

Often serve as stewards of natural resources and cultural heritage. When they benefit from tourism, they have incentives to protect these assets. Example: In Nepal, community-managed forests around trekking routes provide income for locals.

Conservation Techniques in Tourism Destinations

Visitor Management Strategies

Too many visitors can harm the very attractions that draw them. Smart management techniques include:

Carrying capacity limits: Restricting the number of daily visitors (e.g., Machu Picchu in Peru limits visitors to 2,500 per day)
Zoning: Dividing areas into different use zones, with some parts fully protected and others open for tourism
Seasonal closures: Closing sensitive areas during breeding seasons or recovery periods
Guided access only: Requiring visitors to be accompanied by trained guides who ensure rules are followed

Sustainable Infrastructure

How tourism facilities are built and operated can make a huge difference to conservation:

Eco-friendly design: Buildings that blend with surroundings and minimise resource use
Renewable energy: Using solar, wind or other clean energy sources
Water conservation: Rainwater collection, greywater recycling and low-flow fixtures
Waste management: Reducing, reusing, recycling and proper disposal of waste

Case Study Focus: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands face the challenge of balancing tourism with conservation of their unique wildlife. Conservation efforts include:

Strict visitor regulations: Fixed routes, mandatory guides and limited landing sites
A $100 park entrance fee that funds conservation
Biosecurity measures to prevent introduction of invasive species
Marine protected areas covering 138,000 square kilometres
Scientific research stations that monitor ecosystem health

Results: Despite growing from 40,000 visitors in 1990 to over 275,000 today, the islands maintain healthy wildlife populations. Tourism provides economic alternatives to fishing and farming, which had threatened native species.

Education and Awareness in Conservation

One of tourism's most powerful conservation tools is education. When visitors understand and appreciate natural and cultural heritage, they're more likely to support its protection.

∞ Interpretation

Information that helps visitors understand the significance of what they're seeing. This includes nature trails with information boards, visitor centres with exhibits and guided tours that explain ecological processes.

∞ Visitor Codes of Conduct

Guidelines that teach tourists how to behave responsibly. Examples include "Leave No Trace" principles in wilderness areas and cultural respect guidelines in heritage sites.

Economic Benefits of Conservation

For conservation to succeed long-term, it needs to make economic sense for local communities and governments. Tourism can provide this economic justification:

Jobs: Conservation areas create employment as rangers, guides, hospitality staff and in support services
Business opportunities: Local entrepreneurs can provide accommodation, food, crafts and experiences
Tax revenue: Tourism generates taxes that can fund public services and further conservation
Alternative livelihoods: Tourism offers income sources that don't deplete natural resources (unlike logging, mining, or intensive agriculture)

Case Study Focus: Gorilla Conservation in Rwanda

Mountain gorillas were on the brink of extinction in the 1980s, with just 254 remaining in Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. Today, conservation efforts supported by tourism have increased their numbers to over 1,000.

Key conservation strategies:

Permits to trek with gorillas cost $1,500 per person in Rwanda, generating millions for conservation
10% of permit revenue goes directly to local communities
Former poachers now work as porters and guides
Daily visitor numbers are strictly limited to 8 people per gorilla family for one hour only
Health protocols protect gorillas from human diseases

This approach has turned mountain gorillas from a threatened species into a valuable national asset, with the local community now their strongest protectors.

Challenges and Solutions in Tourism Conservation

Common Challenges

Despite good intentions, conservation efforts in tourism face several obstacles:

Overtourism: Too many visitors can overwhelm conservation measures
Short-term thinking: Pressure for immediate profits over long-term sustainability
Climate change: Altering ecosystems faster than they can adapt
Competing land uses: Development pressure for hotels, roads and other infrastructure
Unequal benefits: When local communities don't receive fair benefits from tourism

Innovative Solutions

Forward-thinking destinations are finding ways to overcome these challenges:

Technology: Using apps to monitor visitor numbers and impacts in real-time
Certification schemes: Recognising businesses that meet conservation standards
Public-private partnerships: Combining government protection with private sector innovation
Conservation fees: Direct charges to visitors that fund protection efforts
Diversification: Spreading visitors across more sites to reduce pressure on popular attractions

How You Can Support Conservation as a Tourist

Individual choices make a difference. Here's how you can help conservation when you travel:

Choose tour operators and accommodations with strong environmental policies
Follow all local guidelines and stay on marked trails
Never buy souvenirs made from endangered species or protected materials
Reduce your carbon footprint by using public transport where possible
Support local conservation projects through donations or volunteering
Learn about the places you visit and share what you learn with others
Respect wildlife by keeping a proper distance and not feeding animals
Use resources like water and energy carefully, even when on holiday

Remember: Conservation in tourism works best when everyone governments, businesses, communities and visitors plays their part in protecting the natural and cultural treasures that make travel so rewarding.